Port Moresby General Hospital’s call for donations of various items has attracted criticism from the public, citing a failure by the government to fund the hospital.
Chie Executive Officer of PMGH, Dr Paki Molumi however corrected the misconception and said the call for donations was made to help NCD Provincial Health Authority set up another isolation facility at the Taurama Aquatic Centre, similar to the one at Rita Flynn given the increase in the number of COVID 19 cases in the city.
He also revealed that they will set up another isolation facility at PMGH, to cater for patients who come in for treatment but display symptoms of COVID 19.
Dr Molumi says with the increase in the number of COVID 19 cases in Port Moresby, the 76-bed facility at Rita Flynn is sure to be full and the National Capital District Provincial Health Authority is now eyeing other options.
And from past experience, PMGH has helped set up the Rita Flynn facility with assistance from its friends, and they hope to pull together some resources through this appeal to set up the Tauruma facility.
“PMGH must be left alone to continue the normal service. So we are doing this call to assist us (PMGH) as well as NCD PHA.
“We are helping them to set up those facilities so that they take the load off us so we continue to provide the normal service,” said Dr Molumi.
Apart from beds, beddings and PPES, the appeal also calls for donation of items like refrigerators, cooking utensils, food among others.
“We are supplying the food. PMGH cooks the food for the patients at the Rita Flynn. And for the staff we also provide the food.”
While responding to concerns being raised about COVID 19 patients being kept at PMGH, Dr Molumi says the hospital will also turn one of its wards into an isolation facility.
This will help house patients suspected of having COVID 19 while tests are being conducted to confirm their status.
Dr Molumi said “We see that there will be an increase in the number of cases coming in with symptoms, flu-like so we have to put them in a particular area, where we screen all of them before they actually go into the ward to make sure that they do not infect the staff and of course the vulnerable patients in there”.
PMGH has a MOU in place with the NCD Provincial Health Authority to assist run these centres and its call for donations is to honour this MOU.
